Nadav and Avihu vs. Korach/0

Nadav and Avihu vs. Korach

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Introduction

In two stories in Torah we are told of unauthorized personnel burning incense in the Tabernacle. In the first case, in Vayikra 9-10, two sons of Aharon, Nadav and Avihu, enter the Tabernacle to burn incense before Hashem, but they are eaten by a heavenly fire. In the second case, in Bemidbar 16-17, during Korach's rebellion, two hundred and fifty of his supporters attempted to bring incense to the tabernacle, but they too were consumed by heavenly fire.

Literary Allusions

There are a number of linguistic similarities between the two stories:

• In both Hashem appears to the nation using the language "וַיֵּרָא כְבוֹד י"י אֶל כׇּל הָעָם" or "כׇּל הָעֵדָה" (Vayikra 9:23 and Bemidbar 16:19). These are the only two places where such terminology is used.
• In both, in response to Hashem's appearance, people fall over: "

Analysis

• Degree of similarity – 
• Distinctive phrases –